Eminem And Royce 5’9 – “Fast Lane”

Long, long ago, in a high school far, far away, a friend of mine let me hear some song titled “Renegade.” Only instead of Jay-Z riding shotgun, a fellow by the name of Royce Da 5’9 was. It was later explained to me that this was the “original” version. I walked away impressed and with the thought of what a joint project between the two Red Wings would sound like. Hell, the same could be said about Jay-Z/Beanie Siegel/Scarface or any other NBA free agency type concoction of superstars we could imagine. The only difference is, after years of being at odds with one other, the Eminem and Royce collaborative EP will actually come to fruition, appropriately titled Bad Meets Evil, under the umbrella of Shady Records.

“Fast Lane” is a preliminary look into the project that’s almost sure to slap you harder than Angela Bassett in the Jackson 5 movie. As a rapid-fire, lyrical free-for-all, it is difficult to pinpoint one lyric or verse to focus on and that’s a positive. Marshall and Nickel attempt to outdo each other with a slew of metaphors, pictures and overall wizardry which helps automatically place B.M.E. near the top of summer releases to anticipate. With all the bad news circulating out of Detroit, seeing something go their way is commendable, no matter how minuscule (or irrelevant) it truly is in the grand scheme of things.**

And just as a suggestion, it’d be dope to see them team up with a few Michigan artists over the course of the EP. Danny Brown? Elzhi? Jon Connor? No? Ok, fine, just go ahead and listen to the song.

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im not tryna be an asshole but do people still care about these guys? eminem was once my favorite rapper, but after that lame ass cd he put out last year i find myself ignoring a lot of headlines i see about him. i think its just too late for this guys.

By: J. Tinsley

04.28.2011 @ 10:12 PM

I see what you’re saying, but Eminem’s name is still powerful as hell in the market. He’s 3.5M and counting on the last CD. Somebody out there still cares about him.

By: Type

04.28.2011 @ 10:13 PM

I disagree..recovery was a huge commercial success, you can’t deny both of these guys can still spit while listening to this song

By: myjestik

04.28.2011 @ 10:20 PM

royce gets off on this. you know what so does em.

By: Teef

04.28.2011 @ 10:27 PM

Eminem is in an elite class of rappers that still moves units. His fanbase shows out when a new CD of his shows up on the racks of your local big box store.

Whether or not that very same fanbase respects/appreciates the type of lyricism displayed on this song, who knows? Kinda doubt it, intricate wordplay isn’t what’s hot in the streets anymore lol

wow since Royce on renegade? I’ve been waiting a Bad meets Evil since the Scary Move/Nothing to do single.

By: D-Treal

04.28.2011 @ 11:02 PM

Lets face it man if you still give damn about lyrics and delivery there is no way you can say Em is irrelevant, I mean seriously man who are we kidding. One of the few rappers that actually give a damn about the shit he writes and not only that he ain’t walking around here talking bout Lil B is a genius. Eminem is single handedly a quarter of the reason why rap is even still interesting to a anybody who can appreciate good music

By: thastrings

04.28.2011 @ 11:10 PM

preach, d-treal preach to them!

i don’t see how you can have anything but respect for em at this point. hell, marshall mathers LP just went DIAMOND. first rap album to do that EVER.

By: J. Tinsley

04.28.2011 @ 11:17 PM

i don’t see how you can have anything but respect for em at this point. hell, marshall mathers LP just went DIAMOND. first rap album to do that EVER.

=========================

Nahh, it wasn’t the first. He does have two diamond albums though (MMLP and The Eminem Show).

Speakerboxx/Love Below went diamond. Life After Death did too. And I’m pretty sure All Eyez On Me and Get Rich Or Die Trying did too. And, don’t laugh, but I’m pretty sure MC Hammer’s “Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” sold 10M.

By: Lil' Nello

04.28.2011 @ 11:25 PM

Preach D-Trail Em & Royce straight destroyed this track! Also is it just me or maybe I’m tripping but that sound like Timbaland voice at the end? Timbo-production on the EP perhaps?

By: Teef

04.28.2011 @ 11:26 PM

All of those diamond albums came from artists who cared about their craft at that point in their careers. And it shows. They were hitting on all cylinders. Caring enough about your product to make sure the respect for it lasts decades after its release is an attitude that’s sparse these days

Eminem is single handedly a quarter of the reason why rap is even still interesting to a anybody who can appreciate good music

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c’mon man.

and im not sayin he wack or anything, i just dont get excited for him like i use to, nor am i anticipating an em album.

also i discovered he dont got the best white rap album.

By: Greumsy Greums

04.29.2011 @ 5:00 AM

GOOD MEETS HEAVEN !

By: Cal

04.29.2011 @ 9:22 AM

Sometimes I wonder if these “is eminem relevant?” questions are made to aggravate people or just some pretentious question? The fuck you mean if people care, who had the biggest concerts last year? Who had some of the biggest singles last year? Who had the highest selling album last year? Who had one of the largest buzz last year? Call me a Stan but when you ask dumb ass questions I expect them to be backed up by some logic.

By: Chris Cool

04.29.2011 @ 10:05 AM

So going by your logic nicki minaj and drake are both top 5 right?

By: Steven B.

04.29.2011 @ 10:55 AM

I haven’t liked Eminem’s new style for “clever”, it’s hit or miss within the song for me.

The more I hear this song the more I like it though, which is usually a sign of something classic.

These dudes are going harder skill wise than anyone else in the mainstream right now, gotta respect that.

Looking forward to this.

By: thastrings

04.29.2011 @ 11:18 AM

Nahh, it wasn’t the first. He does have two diamond albums though (MMLP and The Eminem Show).
=======

whoops….i misread the article announcing MMLP going diamond. Em is first ever rapper to have TWO diamond albums.

By: illy

04.29.2011 @ 11:29 AM

yo “chris cool” my brother if your not a fan of him then why bother commenting on him? i dont get it you just said you dont care for his music anymore but yet u still listen to dis post and commented on it. plus u asked if any one cares,well obvisously you do and the other millions of people in the world that made him the most popular person on da planet according to facebook and the biggest artist in da world according to record sells. who’s selling more then em right now? dont worry ill wait…. men lie women lie you #’s dont

By: Chris Cool

04.29.2011 @ 12:04 PM

Obviously I wanted to ask question. When I asked if anyone cared I wasnt talking about the general public, I was talking about people like us. The whole numbers argument is such a cop out response of course he’s gonna sell, I doubt anyone in hete bought his album though. I never said that I dislike him, I just dont really care about him as much ai use to.

By: Cal

04.29.2011 @ 12:44 PM

I bought his album.

Plus my dude dont be clever and try to insinuate what i meant with that Drake and Nicki crap. We’re talking about relevance and so far you’ve been proven wrong. Lets keep it moving.

By: Chris Cool

04.29.2011 @ 2:07 PM

How have I been wrong? I never once said anything about relevance, that was you. I said I think its too late for this. Like a decade too late.

By: Drizz Skizz

04.29.2011 @ 4:21 PM

Intense….haterz get the gas face

By: D-Treal

04.30.2011 @ 1:22 AM

Record sales and accolades aside dude is rain man with word play, I aint saying he flawless I’m just saying dude has earned his right to be mentioned in all lyrical discussions FOREVER. I mean rap didn’t exactly get better since his arrival, I just can’t see how anybody can shit on one of the last remaining rap artist that drop shit that aint low IQ (gucci Waka Flocka) or shock rap (Lil B and any nigga like him)